Question of the Week: 104 - 3/24/2003Have You Changed Your Mind About the War in Iraq?Many people were initially for or against the possibility of a war in Iraq. Now that it is a reality and troops are on the ground, have you changed your mind or your position on the war?

Do you think that anti-war protests should cease? Do you think that an even greater divide has opened up between those who hold differing ideologies?

Do you think that the suspension of certain civil liberties for security reasons is appropriate during war time? Do YOU feel safer? Will the world be more secure because of this action?

I don't disagree that Saddam is a horrible person and should not rule Iraq. However, I do disagree that we have a right to invade his country and remove him from power. Check out the number of countries on Amnesty International's list of nations with human rights violations. Should we invade them all because "we're the good guys and they're the bad guys."? (And let's consider if we're really the good guys.) Where does it end? Many people in this country do not have adequate shelter or health care, yet some people would think it responsible to spend our resources in other countries---and not in acts of love and caring, but in violence. If you think that removing Saddam is for the good of all, remember that since the Korean conflict, the vast majority of people killed by war are women and children who die of starvation and disease as an indirect result of fighting. I grieve for the people of Iraq who suffered under Saddam. I grieve for any human, anywhere, who has his/her rights violated. But I also grieve for the poor children who will die of this conflict because we chose to invade another country without direct provocation or international support. Would we be the world's only superpower if another country had invaded us to "liberate" us from the British? Or is it our will and desire for freedom that made us--and keep us--free? We can send the Iraqi people support, food, supplies, and positive energy...but only they can make--and keep--themselves free. To believe otherwise is dangerous arrogance.

I know a lot of schools do this, but im my town the french students get the opporitunity to goto different countries. this year both the 8th grade class and the high school get to goto canada (quebec and montreal)

a friend of mine is two years older than me and she's a sophmore. She's going to Montreal with her french class. They aren't allowd to mention the war, mention they're american, or wear anything with american flags. We aren't even allowd to support our country. I was reading her online journal and she was talking about how she was scared. She was scared because she wasn't even allowd to talk about being an american citizen. She was saying how someone she knew was in canada and they mentioned they were american in a cafe and the people litterally started "booing" at them. Shouldn't we be able to be pproud of our country no matter where we are? I mean this is Canada and innocent kids aren't allowd to mention they live about 5 hours away. These are kids, do you really think we have any control over what our government does? Absolutely not.

People seem to assume that since we're American we agree with every little thing the government does. I believe what a lot of you are posting disproves that. Next year I'm going to Italy and to Austria with my school orchestra since we were invited to play 6 concerts there. I'm afraid to go there because I don't know how i'll be treated.

The truth is I am proud to be an american. I don't necessarily think we're the "greatest country" with the "best views" but I'm suposed to be free here. That's the one thing I do respect about our country. I can be free.

I haven't changed my mind that killing Iraqi citizens for oil OR their own good is wrong just because now I know people doing it. I do want our soldiers to home home safely, there is nobody I want hurt other than Bush and Hussein and all the other dictators in power who will never see a battlefield. Today simply stating the truth is seen as unpatriotic:Bush was not elected, this war is not being waged for the sake of the Iraqi people, this war is not increasing the safety of the American people, we are making the world hate us. I love my country, and I despise murder being done in its name.

However, I know of many people who have children sent to Iraq to fight. I pray for their safety.

I wonder what this war "conflict" is really about. Are we trying to rid the world of another Hitler or Stalin or are we simply trying to control the source of oil?

I live in Kentucky. Hemp can be grown here with great success. What's wrong with hemp oil? It has been proven to work for automobiles. Why are we dependent on a country who hates us for oil when we could possibly produce it for ourselves?

I have always been a peace freak so my attitude towards war hasn't and will never change but I have to admit that different opinions about the war have separated the people. I find it unnecessary to fight because of something as inevitable as this war.

i still think Hussein and his poisonous sons have forfeited their right to be members of the human race. i still think the US has a moral obligation to rid the world of the "man" (to use the term very loosely) , as we had a hand in bringing him to power in the first place.

I don't mind the peace protesting, or the pro-usa rallies. I do mind the word "nazi" being flung in all directions, mostly indescriminately (seems to cheapen the holocaust, doesn't it... ask any Jew what a nazi is) . I do mind seeing signs at rallies that say things like "We support our troops when they shoot their officers".

Civil liberties- suspending them is a bad idea, but a line needs to be drawn as to what consitutes treasonous behavior and plain old dissent. There was a time when Professor De Genovas remarks about "a million Mogadishus" would have been called "Providing aid and comfort to the enemy". the patriot acts are knee-jerk reactionary BS, and someone needs to reign in ashcroft.

I feel safer in knowing at least one financial conduit for radical islamic terrorism is about to be dried up. Minus the $25, 000 reward for blowing ones self up, i hope the people of Israel find themselves at least a little safer when they head out for coffee, pizza, school and work. Minus the Ba'athist governments' gracious providing of land, training and funds to Al Qaeda, i hope the rest of us feel a tad bit safer, too.

What concerns me? the iraqi governments' complete disregard for the geneva conventions, baldfaced denial of its impending doom, the finding of torture chambers, happily using civilians and places of worship as shields (where's the republican guard holed up now in Najaf? A mosque dedicated to a Shi'ite cleric? hmm) , warehouses of stockpiled food in places where people are starving, willful & wholesale environmental destruction to keep itself in power, and that there are people who would allow such atrocities to continue in the name of the status quo.

our gods and goddesses are not all peace and love. Kali is my patron goddess. Rebirth through destruction is her hallmark (among other things, like being the deification of Karma) . I hope to see iraq become a thriving, productive nation again, and, unfortunately, it seems only through the destruction of its current government does it have even an inkling of a chance at that. I have friends and family overseas fighting for someone elses right to dissent, now. That's the difference between the US and the sniveling appeasers. Gods bless all of them and bring every soldier, airman, marine, and sailor home safe.

"Peace is never wrong and war is never right. It would be completely hypocritical for someone who calls him/herselfPagan to ever support a war."

So you are the Pagan Pope now? I don't remember any vote on the rule that states Pagans must all be pacifists who are full of sweetness and light.

Its not historically acurate to even try to claim that Pagans are all gentle peace lovers. Not only that its highly presumptuous.

I am Pagan.

I'm not a war monger, but I'm not the sort to believe in peace at all cost to the detriment of others either.

People need to just get used to the idea that not all of US are White Lighters! For people that want to be that way, that's terrific, knock yourself out. But those of us who aren't shouldn't be branded as less Pagan.

You think that its unfair that the republican guard are holed up in civilian centres? I suppose they should ride out to met the US invaders head on in a fair fight?

You said that you hope the people of Israil feel safer, I do too but then I wish they would safe guard the rights of the people of Palestine whose land they stole.

The links to Al Qaeda and Iraq are thin and smell of bs even by normal US standards.

While I have never argued that Saddam needed to go, freeing thousands of people by killing them directly (as in your bombs) or indirectly (as in anti aircraft fire gone wrong, which is still your fault for invading) is not the way id choose.

The terror problems will not dry up after this war and if I were in the uS id feel no safer at all. Your government have pissed of a lot of people around the world.

Shame your government had the right idea but had to do it in an ileagal manner.

Also isnt it funny no WOMD have turned up yet. Either they never had any, or they have gone missing. Feel safe now?

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